Opinion pieces

Parliament’s human rights committee has spent the past four months examining Australia’s laws against racial vilification. It travelled to every capital city and heard stories of how racism impacts on the lives of everyday Australians.Leaders of...

As recent reports allege asylum seekers are being removed from Manus Island and returned to their place of origin, Commission President, Prrofessor Gillian Triggs, reflects on the nation's responsibilities.

Yesterday’s announcement that the Government intends to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment – otherwise known as OPCAT - is the most significant advance in the...

I was shocked but not surprised by the ABC’s Four Corners revelations last Monday night. Incontrovertible CCTV evidence of Aboriginal children subject to demeaning, debilitating and dehumanizing behavior has galvanized the Australian community and...

Imagine seeing the words "never married" on your new husband's death certificate. As if the grief of losing your husband while honeymooning wasn't traumatic enough.Marco Bulmer-Rizzi's husband, David, died after falling down stairs at a friend's...

Gender rights are no joke. Australian law gives us all a legal right to live and work free from sexual harassment.But where does behaviour that is inappropriate, disrespectful or just plain rude cross the line to become unlawful? This is a question...

By Professor Gillian Triggs and Commissioner Megan Mitchell.We can no longer tolerate the loss of innocent lives, or allow children to be exposed to such horrific crimes.This week we have seen at least four lives tragically cut short at the hands...

The long running, if muted, struggle between the High Court of Australia and the Government over refugees recalls a bitter legal battle in the early 17th century. Sir Edward Coke, the first Lord Chief Justice of England, defied King James 1 by...

Malcolm Fraser was a towering figure in human rights. I greatly respected his compassion and respect for all human beings.I have known Malcolm for 40 years. He was always generous with his time and demonstrated a great ability to resolve difficult...

There has been considerable public interest in some recent findings of the Australian Human Rights Commission that the Australian Government is in breach of our human rights obligations. While, as President of the Commission, I seldom comment on...